Maisie Houghton '62 and Jamie Houghton '58, MBA '62, have made a $1.25 million gift to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to establish an endowment fund that is unprecedented at Harvard College.

Income from the endowment will be designated by Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis to present undergraduates with greater exposure to successful women and to affirm women's contributions to scholarship and society.

Said Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (and Amory Houghton Professor of Chemistry) Jeremy R. Knowles, "As the College admits a record number of women [48.5 percent] to the Class of 2001, this gift from Maisie and Jamie Houghton could not be more timely. Dean Lewis had been planning a number of initiatives to improve the College experience of our women undergraduates, and the Houghtons' wonderfully thoughtful endowment now allows us to move forward."

The Houghtons' longstanding interest and involvement in women's issues and a desire to benefit a program that addresses personal and professional issues for women prompted the gift, according to Maisie Houghton.

"The opportunity to support this initiative was exciting to us because of the influence the women's movement has had on both our lives -- Jamie's professionally as the chairman of Corning and mine personally and professionally -- and because of the extent to which we are both still engaged with women's issues," explains Maisie, who started a women's center in Corning, N.Y., worked as a counselor at Barnard College, and ran a series of workshops in New York City called "Women and Money."

"Women's lives have changed significantly over the years, and Harvard, in response, has changed, too," she continues. "We think this is an appropriate project and one with the potential to have a big impact on the lives of all undergraduates at Harvard, and especially women."

According to Dean Lewis, the Houghton endowment will support numerous activities, including identifying women visitors scheduled to speak throughout the year at Harvard or department colloquia and arranging for them to meet more informally with undergraduates.

For example, in mid-March, before her presentation to graduate students, Emily Carter, tenured professor of chemistry at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), joined 15 undergraduates for lunch at Kirkland House. The lunch gave undergraduates an opportunity to interact with Carter and ask her questions.

"We wanted Professor Carter to speak with a small group of students so she could share, in a more personal way, her perspectives about not only her field but also her life," says Susannah B. Tobin '00, who helped organize the gathering. "It would be great to have a regular series of discussions like this that would expose undergraduates to accomplished and distinguished women and allow students to see them not just as speakers or scholars but as real, flesh-and-blood people."

Other initiatives being discussed by Dean Lewis include sponsoring a conference to bring women panelists from specific careers, such as journalism, law, politics, and medicine, to Harvard.

Barbara J. Grosz, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, expresses her enthusiasm about the Houghton gift and what it will mean for undergraduates.

"I can't think of a better program to fund if you're interested in increasing the visibility of distinguished women at the College," she says. "Given the small number of women on the Faculty, this is a great way for students to see the opportunities that lie ahead for them and the kinds of things they can do with their lives. Even if there were more women on the Faculty, I think it would be important to bring women to Harvard who are accomplished in a variety of fields."

According to Karen E. Avery '87, new assistant dean of Harvard College, who will be devoting a great deal of time and effort to the women's initiative project, a student advisory group that meets regularly with Dean Lewis has also raised ideas about how to enhance the experience of women undergraduates at the College.

"The group has suggested a mentoring program whereby women (possibly alumnae) would visit the Houses and host small gatherings for undergraduates," she explains.

Elizabeth A. Haynes '98, a member of the advisory group who lives in Winthrop House, adds that such a program could increase outreach to women undergraduates and provide a forum for mentoring and building relationships.

"To me, inviting women to come to the Senior Common Rooms and speak with undergraduates presents a good opportunity and good use of a structure that is already in place," she says. "The more visible women in education, business, medicine, law, and other fields are at the College, the more mentors there will be for all undergraduates."

The Houghton endowment provides the impetus for the College to move forward with several current plans and will provide the support necessary for future initiatives.

"Maisie and I wanted to do something for women undergraduates at Harvard," explains Jamie Houghton, a Fellow of Harvard College and Campaign Executive Committee member of the Committee on University Resources. "When Harry explained his plan to us, we were delighted to help implement it. Young women today go to Harvard and identify themselves as Harvard students. Because of this, I think the College should have a special initiative for women. Harvard has made great strides, but more needs to be done."

Adds Maisie Houghton, "Making accomplished women, older women, and women who have taken risks accessible to undergraduates and creating an environment that encourages such women to be open and talk about themselves and the choices they've made should enormously benefit undergraduates. I hope guests will share stories not only about their achievements but also about the conflicts or challenges they may have encountered along the way. Presenting these leaders not just as successful career women but also as individuals to whom students can relate will hopefully be the result."